To begin harnessing fuel on the Moon, the initial step is producing it, and the most logical source is water. Water can be separated into hydrogen and oxygen, both crucial components of rocket fuel. While we know that water exists on the lunar surface, the exact quantities and whether it is concentrated in significant deposits remain uncertain. This uncertainty has led researchers to explore alternative resources that are known to be plentiful on the Moon.

One of the most abundant materials found on the Moon’s surface is regolith. This fine dust, formed by continuous micrometeorite impacts, has eroded lunar rocks over millennia. Regolith comprises various minerals, many of which contain oxygen—the key element needed for producing rocket fuel. Scientists have made notable progress in understanding the chemistry required to extract oxygen from these minerals on a scale sufficient for fuel production.

However, having the chemical knowledge is only part of the challenge; understanding the necessary infrastructure to conduct these processes at scale is equally important. To explore this, researchers have focused on extracting oxygen from a mineral named ilmenite (FeTiO₃). While there are more effective methods for oxygen extraction, such as using iron oxides, ilmenite is a well-established option. Notably, a method for oxygen production from ilmenite was patented in the 1970s, and two prototypes have been developed, with one potentially slated for future NASA missions.

The proposed system aims to harvest regolith and partially purify the ilmenite before combining it with hydrogen at high temperatures. This reaction will release oxygen in the form of water, leaving behind refined iron and titanium, which could also be advantageous. The generated water can then be split to recapture hydrogen for reuse, while the released oxygen can be utilized in rocket systems.